Cigar bunch shaper



Aug. 17, 1943. s. CLAUSEN 2,327,020

' CIGAR BUNCH SHAPER Filed Jan. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SJ'gz/rc/ Clause/2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED ST TES PATENT I oIGAR EtiNoH' Sfi'filtfi si ma ciauseitnmaiii n, 1v. ififas'sifghdr tli lritel-national t Cigar-'Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey chine of the turret type inwhich a plural' of pockets are mounted on or formedintegrally with a turret, which turret is rotatedstep 13y step to present the pockets coverr moving and replacing andpocket filling mechanism in timed relation so that a' continuous succession of bunches is always undergoingshaping W According to the preferred form bf myj in l fiflf tion, the covers which cooperate with the mold pockets are of an improved type and eachcover is adapted to be associated with its respective P t as a qm le eu it a l of whi hadd to h ra ific n th me an m In order to properly remove, replace and position q f 1 t PQ' k s' ve r id d pr ved cover handling mechanism which carries out this purpose.

It therefore, an objectof lthe invention provide simplified mechanism for removin vand replacing, bunch shaping covers ,on a turretor other bunch shaping means wherein toggle m'ecm anism is operativeto lift and replace the covers upon the pockets from which theywere removed.

The invention also consists in the provision .of improved mechanism ,for locking and holding: bunch molding, covers in molding relationship with respect to'bunches located in bunch shaping molds.

- It is a further object of theiinvention to provide improved means for holding bunch shaping, covers in'shapin'g positionwithrespect to a'mold without requiring external cooperating mecha-'. nism for maintaining the covers in such position.

. ihe invention also contemplates th'eprovision of a toggle actuated-device provided with jaws or receiving and holding elements whichpositi'on bunch covers over-pockets of a mold, and means v for effecting the removal and replacement of covers in properlorder. V e

{A' further object of the invention is the pr ovi-. slon'of improved means for aligning bunch'lcovers in molding relationships with the pockets of a cigar bunch mold or molding turret. The invention also consistsof the provisio'nlof notches or grooves at the end of each hunch cover which coact with complementary means on wl? ith. re t-R g t ima e-ac tate 4 wilfull 1 61 sis in gay;

"' 'epoc e ar bun" 1 shtni" 1 r're 0 et 9 mat rnd e. 39'. i sllfilk ae is; as? sllla t ss t e -9 spo ng notch formed in' the dovetails of t e Patric a.pelsteel yel emr ure w ns matter: are E a stem tbegia s lllaa. v t l-el ggle levers and roller sliv n aliaesl the com anotherlfpir m 6i bun ch shaping cover manipulat- L ing .c- 1;, it. L AA 1 an (I .l

I eart alc cenvismo 50 removing, mechanism; as seen from uI Ac c-Q c. 7;. Zia-i Minus, j;

.R e r n l... .i ur g llwtqrl v modification Q1 JQY JpYQ QQQS a sle males;

i the: machine supports theealla tiliha u retlll 55 which may be rotated intermittently by means t covers of "a kir'fg the covers in place on t eof an indexing device which may be similar to that described and shown in United States Patent No. 1,838,157 granted to R. E. Rundell on December 29, 1931, for Cigar bunch concentrator. The side plate 9, suitably attached to the machine frame, supports a shaft I5, on which is loosely mounted the loading arm I6. Fixedly attached to the shaft I5 is a lever 51 which is connected to arm I5 by link 56, cross-head compression spring 58, and guide rods 54. Shaft I5 is rotated from pocket filling position through approximately 180 into discharge position and back again by means of gear 59 and gear segment 60. As shown in Figure 1, the rotation of shaft I5 is effected by means of a crank 6| attached to shaft I1, which mounts gear segment 60. A rod 62 pivoted to crank 6| rotates shaft I1 by means of a suitable cam (not shown). It will be seen, therefore, that arm I6 carries the loading pocket 5|, the movable bottom 52, which then is pushed outward by the lever 51 at the end of its swing or at bunch discharge position after the pocket 5| has come to rest adjacent the turret pocket, thereby permitting relative motion between the lever 51 and arm I6. The relative motion which efiects an ejection of a bunch which has been tightly placed'into the pocket by the operator causing a knife 64 mounted on cross-head 65 to trim one end of the raw bunch in pocket 5| as the bunch is discharged into the molding turret pocket I9.

Bracket 8 carries a shaft I3, which is rocked by crank 41 operated by a suitable cam (not shown) through the medium of a rod 49 connected to crank 41. On shaft I3 is loosely mounted an arm I4 and fixedly attached thereto is a lever I2. The arm I4 in the illustrated embodiment is forked at both ends, with the lever I2 mounted between the two hub prongs. On pins I8, between its furcations, arm I4 carries a pair of toggl levers and 26 provided with jaws 21 and 28, respectively, which are operated by means of a pin 29 in the outer end of lever I2. The pocket covers 20 are provided with'dovetail extensions 30 and the jaws 21 and 28 are so arranged that normally when they coact with the pocket covers they are held in closed position against these dovetails by compression springs 3I carried in sockets 32, 33- depending from arm I4. Socket 32 also forms a stop for jaw 21 and limits its rotation about its support pin I8, thereby holding the covers in a definite axial position when the jaws are closed against the dovetails 30. In the structure shown, the gripping faces of laws 21 and 28 are provided with tapered pins 34 (Figure 3) which are adapted to seat themselves in V- grooves or notches 35 formed in dovetails 30 (Figures 1 and 3) and in this way provide positive means for aligning the covers circumferentially with the pockets I9. If desired, complementary projections may be formed integral with jaws 21 and 28 for cooperation with dovetails 30 in the covers 20 on the pockets. In order to locate each cover axially with respect to its respective pocket, projection 21a on toggle jaw 21, engages the seat of spring 3| (left, as shown in Figure 1) which limits the inward movement of toggle jaw 21. A lost motion-between the pin 29 and slot connection of the toggle jaws makes this possible.

In the closed position of the jaws 21 and 28, the lever I2, arm I4 and pocket cover 20 are locked together in one unit. When this unit has'been turned from its vertical position I2, I4', 20' (shown in dotted lines in Figure l) to its cover replacingposition (shown in full lines) by the movement of crank 41 from its dotted position 41, a lug 36 on the hub of arm I4 comes to rest against an adjusting screw 31 on bracket 8, so that a further motion of crank 41 to a position 41", causes lever I2 to move relative to arm I4 into position I2" thereby compressing the springs 3| of jaws 21, 28 of the toggle levers. When the jaws have been opened in this manner, th turret is indexed one step by any suitable conventional indexing device, such as shown in the Rundell patent, above mentioned, and the same series of operations in removing and replacing the next cover takes place.

In the preferred form of my invention, each of the pockets I9 carried by turret II is provided with a spring pressed latch 38, which is moved axially relative to the mold pocket into cover locking engagement with the top surface of each of the covers 20 by means of spring 39, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, thereby holding the cover firmly in place as the turret revolves. The latches hold the covers firmly secured to the turret from the time a cover is placed in clamping position with respect to a bunch located in a pocket until it is again presented for unloading. In order to release a latch 38 at the unloading position, means carried by the cover manipulating arm may be used. Each of the mold pockets I9, which carries the cover latching mechanism, is removably mounted on turret I0 and hence the molds can be replaced if worn or broken, or molds of different size and shape can be substituted. In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, gripper jaw 21 is provided with a radial extension 63 arranged to engage With the inclined top surface of the latches 38, thereby causing the latter by a camming action, to disengage the covers for their subsequent removal and replacement.

Another satisfactory device for clamping covers 20 on the pockets I9 for travel with the turret II during the bunch shaping operation consists of the provision of bores B at each end of the covers 20, as shown in Figure 4. Small balls 65, inserted in the bores, are pressed outwardly by springs 56 into notches 61 formed in the side walls of the pockets and lock th covers resiliently in position on the pockets I9.

After insertion of the balls the ends of the bores in the covers are peened just enough to allow the balls to protrude a sufficient distance, but to prevent them from falling out when the cover is disengaged. The up-motion of the arm I4 in r moving the cover will pull the balls '65 out of engagement with grooves 61, and its down-motion in replacing the covers will push the balls back into place in the grooves and the pressure of the spring 66 will hold the covers tight during the rotation of the turret.

Inthe modification shown in Figure 5, the new toggle arrangement is combined with roller pathways similar in construction to those shown in the Rundell patent. Shaft I3, which is intermittently rocked by the crank 41 by means of rod 49, carries cooperating lever I2 and arm I4, the latter being provided with furcations in which are mounted pins I8 supporting the toggle levers 25 and 26 having the gripper jaws 21, 28 operated by the pin 29 in lever I2.- Compression springs 3|, supported in sockets 32 and. 33, hold the gripper projections 34 in grooves 35 of the dovetail extensions 30a of the covers 20a until the stop lug 36 ofithe arm I4 contacts the screw 31, whereupon relative motion between arm I4 and lever I2 takes place and the grippers open to release the cover. Covers 20a are equipped springs normally urging said jaws together into cover engaging position, and means for opening said jaws to release a cover held bysaid jaws.

11.- A cigar machine cover transfer for removing and replacing covers on a bunch shaping pocket, comprising a bifurcated cover gripping jaw supporting member, jaws mounted in said member and arranged to engage and hold a cover to beremoved and replaced on a pocket, a pin and slot connection between said jaws, springs normally urging said jaws into gripping position, and an arm cooperating with said member for opening said jaws.

12. A cigar machine cover transfer for removing and replacing covers on cigar bunch shaping pockets, comprising a support movable to and from said pockets, spaced cover holding members mounted on said support, means normally tending to move said members towards each other into cover holding position, and means carried by said members for aligning said covers on said pockets.

13. The combination with a cigar bunch shaping pocket, and a complementary bunch shaping cover coacting therewith to shape bunches located in said pocket, of latch means associated with said pocket and cover for holding said cover on said pocket, a transfer arm for removing and replacing a cover on said pocket comprising a movable supporting member, cover engaging jaws carried by said member, resilient means normally urging said jaws into holding engagement with respect to said cover, means for releasing said cover from said jaws, and means for moving said .support towards said pocket to unlatch said cover from said pocket.

14. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch shaping pocket, and a shaping cover cooperating therewith for shaping bunches located .in said pocket, of latch means for locking said xcover to said pocket, a cover transfer arm for re- ;moving and replacing a cover on said pocket, and .means carried by said arm and coacting with :said latch means for releasing said cover for re- ..moval from said pocket. I

15. In a cigar machine, the combination with a movable bunch shaping pocket, and a shaping cover associated therewith, latch means for locking said cover for movement with said pocket, a transfer movable to and from said pocket for removing and replacing said cover on said pocket, and means carried by said transfer for unlatching said cover from said pocket.

16. A cigar bunch shaping mechanism, comprising a mold pocket having an elongated genr' erally concave cigar shaped portion, and indented portions formed in the sides of said pocket, a cover having an elongated generally concave cigar shaped concave portion complementary to that of said pocket, and latch means associated with said cover and coacting with said indented portions for securing said cover to said pocket.

17. A cigar bunch shaping mechanism, comprising a mold pocket having an elongated generally concave cigar shaped portion with indented portions formed in the side walls thereof, and a cover having a generally concave cigar shaped portion complementary to that of said pocket arranged to coact with said pocket in shaping bunches located therein, said cover being provided with bores, spring pressed balls positioned in said bores and arranged to engage said indented portions for securing said cover and pocket in shaping relationship, and means for securing said balls in said bores.

18. The combination with a series of complementary male and female bunch shaping pockets and covers, of means having a cooperating pathway on either side of said pockets for holding said'covers on said pockets during shaping operations, cover handling projections mounted on the upper surface of said covers, yieldable gripping members relatively movable toward and away from each other arranged .to grip said projections, and a device mounting said members for removing and replacing said covers on said pockets.

19. The combination with a rotary turret provided with a series of spaced mold pockets about its periphery, of a plurality of shaping covers associated with said pockets for shaping bunches located in said pockets, means having a cooperating pathway on either side of said series for holding said covers in shaping relationship with said pockets during the rotation of said turret from bunch loading position to bunch discharging position, and means located at said discharge position for removing said cover, said means comprising a transfer arm, jaws located to engage said ,cover, means for closing said jaws on said cover, and means for moving said arm to remove said cover.

20. The combination with an intermittently rotatable turret provided with a plurality of mold pockets about its periphery, of a plurality of complementary covers coacting with said pockets to shape bunches located therein, means having a cooperating pathway on either side of said pockets for holding said covers on. said pockets by engaging the ends of said covers, cover removing members carried on said covers and spaced from the ends of said covers, a transfer cooperating with said turret for removingv and replacing covers on said pockets, comprising a pair of jaws'positioned to engage said members during the rotation of said turret, means for forcing said jaws into engagement with said members, means for effecting removal and replacement of said covers on said pockets, and means for releasing said covers from said laws before rotation of said turret.

21. The combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a series of mold pockets spaced about its periphery, and a plurality of bunch shaping covers cooperating with said mold pockets for shaping bunches lodged therein, of means having a cooperating pathway on either side of said series for holding said covers on said pockets during rotation of said turret by engagement with the ends of said covers, cover removing means carried by said covers and spaced from the ends of said covers, a cover removing and replacing transfer, comprising a movable support, cover gripping means mounted on said support, and arranged to be moved into the path of covers on said pockets,

means for gripping said covers including coacting gripper jaws, means for urging said jaws together into cover gripping position for removng said covers, and means for releasing said covers from said jaws upon replacement of said rality of complementary covers cooperating with said pockets for shaping bunches located therein, means having a cooperating pathway on either side of said pockets for holding said covers in operative positions on said pockets, a pair of jaws positioned to engage said covers at pocket unloading position, toggle mechanism operating said jaws to release a cover held therein, and springs for urging said jaws into cover gripping position.

23. The combination with a turret provided with a plurality of cigar bunch molding pockets, of a plurality of bunch shaping covers associated with said pockets, means forming a cooperating pathway on each side of said pockets for holding said covers positioned on said pockets, rollers mounted on said covers arranged to track in said pathways, cover removing rollers also carried by said covers, and a transfer located adjacent said turret at bunch unloading position provided with tracks located to receive said cover removing rollers for effecting the removal of said covers from said mold pockets by said transfer.

24. In a cigarmachine having a rotatable tur ret provided with a plurality of spaced mold shaping pockets and removable covers associated one with each of said pockets, means movable into engagement with one of said covers, and pivoted members carried by said means for clamping said covers in said means for removal from said pockets.

25. In a cigar machine, the combination with a member provided with a bunch shaping pocket adapted to receive a bunch and shape the same therein, of a bunch shaping cover arranged to close said pocket, extensions formed on said cover, and a member provided with resiliently mounted toggle jaws movable into engagement with said extensions to grip said cover for removal from said pocket.

26. In a cigar machine, the combination with a member provided with a bunch shaping pocket adapted to receive a bunch and shape the same therein, of a bunch shaping cover arranged to close said pocket, extensions formed on said cover, and a member provided with resiliently mounted toggle jaws movable into engagement with said extensions to grip said cover for removal from said pocket, said jaws being provided with projections arranged to coact with notches formed on said extensions to center said cover in proper position with respect to said pocket when said cover is moved into closing position with respect to said pocket.

27. Mechanism for removing and replacing covers on mold pockets of a cigar machine wherein each cover is provided with a member having two dovetail extensions, said mechanism comprising a movable arm, a pair of relatively movable cover gripping members carried by said arm, and means for opening said gripping members to release a cover held between them.

28. Mechanism for removing and replacing covers on mold pockets of a cigar machine wherein each cover is provided with a member having two dovetail extensions, said mechanism com prising a movable arm, a pair of relatively movable cover gripping members carried by said arm, and means for opening said gripping members to release a cover held between them, said lastnamed means including a lever, and means carried by said lever engaging both of said gripping means to force them away from said dovetailed extensions.

29. In a device for removing and replacing mold covers on pockets of a cigar machine, cover holding mechanism comprising a movable arm, relatively movable coacting jaws pivotally mounted on one end of said arm, and a lever coacting with said arm and movable relative thereto for opening said jaws to release a cover held therebetween.

'30. A cover removing and replacing device for a cigar machine comprising an arm provided with a bifurcation at one end, spaced pins mounted in said bifurcation, interconnected gripping jaws carried by said pins, springs mounted on said arm and engaging said jaws for normally holding said jaws in cover gripping position, and a lever coacting with said armand movable relative thereto for opening said jaws to release a cover held therein.

31. A cover removing and replacing device for a cigar machine comprising an arm provided with a bifurcation at one end, spaced pins mounted in said bifurcation, interconnected gripping jaws carried by said pins, springs mounted on said arm and engaging said jaws for normally holding said jaws in cover gripping position, a lever coacting with said arm and movable relative thereto for opening said jaws to release a cover held therein, and projections in said jaws arranged to engage complementary notches on said cover for locating said cover in proper position on said turret.

32. In a cigar shaping mechanism, the combination of a turret provided with a plurality of pockets, completely detachable covers coacting with said pockets for molding bunches in said pockets, means engaging with opposite ends of said covers for holding said covers on their respective pockets, projecting members spaced from the ends of said covers and connected to the top of said mold covers and adapted to be engaged for removal of said mold covers, and mechanism for individually removing and replacing said covers on said pockets by engaging said projecting members.

33. The combination with a group of complementary cover and pocket cigar bunch shaping members, of a rotating turret on which said pockets are mounted; means wholly on the turret for holding each cover on its respective pocket; mechanism for removing individually each cover completely from said pocket and turret and for replacing individually each of said covers on said pocket and turret; and releasing means con structed and arranged to incapacitate said holding means to allow .each individual cover to be removed from said pocket and turret by said mechanism.

34. The combination with cigar bunch shaping pockets, of a revolving turret support for said pockets, complementary shaping covers wholly removable from said shaping pockets and revolving support, means engaging with a portion of said covers for holding said covers on said pockets to shape cigar bunches located therein, projections formed on another portion of said covers, additional means engaging with said projections for lifting exclusively by said projections a cover entirely away from one of said pockets and turret support and for later replacing said cover on a pocket carried by said support, and devices imparting movement to said additional means toward and away from said pockets in timed relation with the movement of said support to lift and replace said covers on said pockets.

SIGURD CLAUSEN. 

